A
To deal with a changing world, we have to change as well. Transforming land into farms removes forests and worsens climate change. But we need to grow more food to support a growing global population. What can we do?
Scientists have discovered that plants grow best under a certain type of light, which can be provided by red and blue LEDs. The combination of these lights at the right level makes a space look pink. Since “pinkhouses” supply their own light, they don't need to have fragile glass walls and ceilings. And they can be set up anywhere, including the places that don't get the amount of light greenhouses need.
Since pinkhouses can pack food in huge columns, one of these farms doesn't need a lot of land. Farmers can set up pinkhouses in cities. They completely control temperature and light, which can help some plants grow twice as well in pinkhouses as they do in traditional farming. Pinkhouses can allow for many more harvests per year since farming doesn't have to stop in winter.
Even though pinkhouses are a great way to grow crops, lighting and heating an indoor space can be very expensive. It doesn't make sense to grow foods that take up a lot of space or that we need to grow lots of, like wheat, rice, and corn, in a pinkhouse. We will still need to grow those crops in fields. We can start farming smarter.
Farmers will use satellite imagery to figure out exactly where to plant each crop. Think of a mixture of just the right crops, rather than a rectangle (长方形) of one type of plant. Sensors in the fields will measure the soil's water level, temperature, and chemical content. They will even be able to detect insects and send out notifications to a smartphone app. Irrigation systems will be tied to weather forecasting programs, allowing for very precise watering and care, all calculated to get the best plant growth and yield.
语篇解读:本文是一篇说明文。文章讲述了如何促进农业生产的两个措施:第一个措施是“粉房子”种植模式,第二个是农民采取的更智能的种植模式。
1.From the text, we know that the pinkhouse ________.
A.covers lots of space
B.needs enough sunlight
C.is made of glass or plastic
D.can make plants grow larger
解析:选D 细节理解题。根据第三段中的“They completely ... traditional farming.”可知,“粉房子”可以完全控制温度和光线,这使得一些在“粉房子”里的植物生长得比传统农场里的植物好一倍,所以“粉房子”能使植物长得更大,故选D项。
2.What does the author intend to do in Paragraph 4?
A.Summarize the previous paragraphs.
B.Emphasize the advantage of pinkhouses.
C.Introduce a new topic of the discussion.
D.Add some background information.
解析:选C 推理判断题。根据第四段第一句可知,虽然“粉房子”是个种植农作物的好方法,但是光照和加热室内空间费用昂贵,农民依然需要在田野里种粮食,且要采取更智能的种植方式。因此接下来作者将要讨论如何采取更智能的种植方式。由此可知,第四段的目的是提出一个新的讨论话题,故选C项。
3.What is the result of the smart farming?
A.Farmers will have a better harvest.
B.Farmers can grow different plants.
C.Farmers needn't care about the weather.
D.Plants can protect themselves against insects.
解析:选A 细节理解题。根据最后一段最后一句可知,更智能的种植方式会带来精确的浇灌和照料,以便使植物达到最佳生长状态并获得丰收,故选A项。
4.What's the best title for the text?
A.Building Pinkhouses
B.Feeding the Future
C.Changing the World
D.Getting Outdoor Farming Smart
解析:选B 标题归纳题。通读全文,尤其根据第一段第二、三句可知,将土地变成农田会使森林消失,导致气候变化恶化,但是人类需要种植更多的食物来供养日益增长的全球人口。因此,全文讲述了促进农业生产的两个措施:第一个为“粉房子”种植模式,第二个是农民采取更智能的种植模式。这两个措施的目的是保障未来粮食的供给,故选B项。